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Search and Rescue #1
Hold Your Breath
In the remote Rocky Mountains, lives depend on the Search & Rescue brotherhood. But in a place this far off the map, trust is hard to come by and secrets can be murder...
As the captain of Field County's ice rescue dive team, Callum Cook is driven to perfection. But when he meets new diver Louise "Lou" Sparks, all that hard-won order is obliterated in an instant. Lou is a hurricane. A walking disaster. And with her, he's never felt more alive... even if keeping her safe may just kill him.
Lou's new to the Rockies, intent on escaping her controlling ex, and she's determined to make it on her own terms... no matter how tempting Callum may be. But when a routine training exercise unearths a body, Lou and Callum find themselves thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence Lou — and prove that not even her new Search and Rescue family can keep her safe forever.
As the captain of Field County's ice rescue dive team, Callum Cook is driven to perfection. But when he meets new diver Louise "Lou" Sparks, all that hard-won order is obliterated in an instant. Lou is a hurricane. A walking disaster. And with her, he's never felt more alive... even if keeping her safe may just kill him.
Lou's new to the Rockies, intent on escaping her controlling ex, and she's determined to make it on her own terms... no matter how tempting Callum may be. But when a routine training exercise unearths a body, Lou and Callum find themselves thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who will stop at nothing to silence Lou — and prove that not even her new Search and Rescue family can keep her safe forever.
365 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 5, 2016
857 people are currently reading
4134 people want to read
About the author
Katie Ruggle
21 books1,217 followersA fan of the old adage “write what you know”, Katie Ruggle lived in an off-grid, solar- and wind-powered house in the Rocky Mountains until her family lured her back to Minnesota. When she’s not writing, Katie rides horses, trains her three dogs, cross-country skis (badly) and travels to warm places where she can scuba dive. A graduate of the Police Academy, Katie received her ice-rescue certification and can attest that the reservoirs in the Colorado mountains really are that cold. A fan of anything that makes her feel like a bad-ass, she has trained in Krav Maga, boxing and gymnastics. You can connect with Katie at http://katieruggle.com/, https://www.facebook.com/katieruggleb..., or on Twitter @KatieRuggle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 744 reviews
May 25, 2017
4.5 "I'm sick and tired of people trying to kill us!" Stars
Lou burst into tears. "I'm sick and tired of people trying to kill us!"
Wow this book was action packed. I really loved both Lou and Callum. They were so opposite it was funny. Callum was super structured, OCD, and very serious. Lou was funny as hell, playful, sassy, energetic, and chaotic. Them together was so much fun. It was like a chihuahua picking on a big grumpy bear. Even though there was a lot of action in this book there are a ton of funny moments too. I laughed a lot while reading this book.
"Never mind. Have fun shopping. I'll see you soon." "Shopping? You make it sound like I'm picking out a purse or something." Rolling her eyes, Lou said, "Fine. Have fun on your ultramacho and manly errand, selecting and purchasing whatever gender-appropriate item you need."-Lou and Callum
Callum and Lou's relationship was a sweet slow burn. Even though I really loved Callum, Lou really made this book for me. Her personality was really fun to read. I liked Rob, Chris, and Ian and can't wait to get to know them more. I missed my George in this book. But I guess he can't be the star of all the books. Hold Your Breath was a great read, but it ends in a cliffy. Not a painful omg how will I live cliffy but I am glad that the other book is already out so I don't have to wait to see what is up with Ian!
"Prepared broth?" she repeated in a mock-appalled tone, replacing the lid. "Horrors!" He rolled his eyes at her, and she grinned. "You got that from me- the eye -rolling thing," she said proudly. "I'm so glad I'm corrupting you." "Do you want some soup or not?" "I don't know." She sighed. "I heard it was made with"-she lowered her voice to a scandalized whisper-"Prepared broth."-Lou and Callum
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
Lou burst into tears. "I'm sick and tired of people trying to kill us!"
Wow this book was action packed. I really loved both Lou and Callum. They were so opposite it was funny. Callum was super structured, OCD, and very serious. Lou was funny as hell, playful, sassy, energetic, and chaotic. Them together was so much fun. It was like a chihuahua picking on a big grumpy bear. Even though there was a lot of action in this book there are a ton of funny moments too. I laughed a lot while reading this book.
"Never mind. Have fun shopping. I'll see you soon." "Shopping? You make it sound like I'm picking out a purse or something." Rolling her eyes, Lou said, "Fine. Have fun on your ultramacho and manly errand, selecting and purchasing whatever gender-appropriate item you need."-Lou and Callum
Callum and Lou's relationship was a sweet slow burn. Even though I really loved Callum, Lou really made this book for me. Her personality was really fun to read. I liked Rob, Chris, and Ian and can't wait to get to know them more. I missed my George in this book. But I guess he can't be the star of all the books. Hold Your Breath was a great read, but it ends in a cliffy. Not a painful omg how will I live cliffy but I am glad that the other book is already out so I don't have to wait to see what is up with Ian!
"Prepared broth?" she repeated in a mock-appalled tone, replacing the lid. "Horrors!" He rolled his eyes at her, and she grinned. "You got that from me- the eye -rolling thing," she said proudly. "I'm so glad I'm corrupting you." "Do you want some soup or not?" "I don't know." She sighed. "I heard it was made with"-she lowered her voice to a scandalized whisper-"Prepared broth."-Lou and Callum
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio...
May 27, 2016
As a fan of romantic suspense I’ve read quite a few. Some super addictive, some okay, and others not-so-much, so I’m always excited when I find one that’s really good! Hold Your Breath had me hooked from the beginning, and I plan on gobbling up the rest of the series!
Lou Sparks is a new addition to the Search and Rescue dive-team in a tiny town in Colorado. Even though her team leader, Callum, is tough, stoic and barely cracks a smile, Lou can’t help the big crush she has on him or what a bumbling mess she turns into when Callum’s around. He’s hot, strong, focused and so good at what he does, so how can Lou resist?
While on a training exercise Lou dislodges a body from the icy depths and her quizzical side can’t let the mystery go. Who was this man, and why did someone kill him? In addition to that mystery, Lou is the target of some nasty, dangerous pranks that start to take on a sinister tone. Surprisingly, Lou finds help in Callum. He won’t leave her side once it’s apparent she’s in danger and also intent on solving the mystery behind the body that popped up.
I thought Lou was a little ditzy at first, and she is a little clutzy when Callum’s around, but that’s mostly from nerves. Anyone with a mad crush could relate. I certainly can! In reality, Lou’s pretty strong and intelligent, and displayed the courage to leave when her life in Connecticut was proceeding without her control, thanks to a possessive boyfriend and steamroller parents. Callum was a bit more of a mystery to me for a lot of the book because we didn’t get his point of view, and that’s the only reason I didn’t rate this book higher, but I still loved his character! He was protective and possessive, and his hard exterior cracked bit by bit spending time with Lou.
Lou’s situation becomes more and more dangerous as the story progresses, but she was smart in her responses. It’s so frustrating when a heroine makes unbelievably stupid decisions and I was relieved this wasn’t the case with Lou. The mystery behind the dead body isn’t completely solved, so I’m sure it will be picked up in the next book. It’s already loaded on my Kindle and I’m excited that it will feature Ian, the hunky firefighter/motorcycle club member! Can’t wait!
A copy was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.
Lou Sparks is a new addition to the Search and Rescue dive-team in a tiny town in Colorado. Even though her team leader, Callum, is tough, stoic and barely cracks a smile, Lou can’t help the big crush she has on him or what a bumbling mess she turns into when Callum’s around. He’s hot, strong, focused and so good at what he does, so how can Lou resist?
While on a training exercise Lou dislodges a body from the icy depths and her quizzical side can’t let the mystery go. Who was this man, and why did someone kill him? In addition to that mystery, Lou is the target of some nasty, dangerous pranks that start to take on a sinister tone. Surprisingly, Lou finds help in Callum. He won’t leave her side once it’s apparent she’s in danger and also intent on solving the mystery behind the body that popped up.
I thought Lou was a little ditzy at first, and she is a little clutzy when Callum’s around, but that’s mostly from nerves. Anyone with a mad crush could relate. I certainly can! In reality, Lou’s pretty strong and intelligent, and displayed the courage to leave when her life in Connecticut was proceeding without her control, thanks to a possessive boyfriend and steamroller parents. Callum was a bit more of a mystery to me for a lot of the book because we didn’t get his point of view, and that’s the only reason I didn’t rate this book higher, but I still loved his character! He was protective and possessive, and his hard exterior cracked bit by bit spending time with Lou.
Lou’s situation becomes more and more dangerous as the story progresses, but she was smart in her responses. It’s so frustrating when a heroine makes unbelievably stupid decisions and I was relieved this wasn’t the case with Lou. The mystery behind the dead body isn’t completely solved, so I’m sure it will be picked up in the next book. It’s already loaded on my Kindle and I’m excited that it will feature Ian, the hunky firefighter/motorcycle club member! Can’t wait!
A copy was kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2023
I wish 3.5 stars was a thing.
This was a decent read and I’m going to admit that some of my enjoyment of this was hindered by my previous reads, which were decidedly steamy, while this book was decidedly not. Though it wasn’t closed door so I was mostly satisfied with it, this story had way more suspense than romance. This author has talent and really knows her stuff when it comes to first responders and search and rescue. This was a book that was high in detail (sometimes too high) and intelligently written. Because I haven’t been reading many intelligent books lately, I found my attention wandering and my eyes glazing over on occasion. I think this is just a me thing and I need to condition myself to a more involved read as my diet has been mostly light fare recently. So sometimes this book was boring, sometimes I wanted the author to shut up about breathing apparatus and BDCs or whatever-the-hell. It was sometimes interesting to learn about the FMC’s different subsistence lifestyle but sometimes it went too deep. You can definitely tell that the author knows what she is talking about, but again, see above about eye glazing 😵💫.
Also I’m not a huge fan of the hot mess FMC paired with the Uber competent MMC. It feels off balance. This FMC was a bit of a nut job at the beginning. She acted like a teenager and had trouble holding her tongue and not descending into verbal diarrhea in front of the MMC. She did have some character growth though and went pretty badass at the end so ultimately I was happy with her as a character and found her to be a strong heroine.
The MMC however wasn’t really well developed. This book was written in third person limited POV and focussed mainly on the heroine’s thoughts and daily life, although since the stalker got a POV it was weird that the hero did not. As a result I didn’t feel like we knew the MMC very well, we weren’t given much on his background, and I was ok with a slow reveal on him but it really turned out to be a no reveal once the dust settled. He was an enigma, a taciturn grump and I don’t know if the two mains ever really had a full conversation. That was mainly what took off stars in my rating. This was closer to chick lit than romance as a result, and their relationship and the MMC himself were not well fleshed out and really took a backseat to the FMC’s struggles and the (2!!) suspense plots.
But overall I did enjoy this and will be continuing with the series. It was a refreshing change from the sex heavy/plot light stuff I’ve read lately.
This was a decent read and I’m going to admit that some of my enjoyment of this was hindered by my previous reads, which were decidedly steamy, while this book was decidedly not. Though it wasn’t closed door so I was mostly satisfied with it, this story had way more suspense than romance. This author has talent and really knows her stuff when it comes to first responders and search and rescue. This was a book that was high in detail (sometimes too high) and intelligently written. Because I haven’t been reading many intelligent books lately, I found my attention wandering and my eyes glazing over on occasion. I think this is just a me thing and I need to condition myself to a more involved read as my diet has been mostly light fare recently. So sometimes this book was boring, sometimes I wanted the author to shut up about breathing apparatus and BDCs or whatever-the-hell. It was sometimes interesting to learn about the FMC’s different subsistence lifestyle but sometimes it went too deep. You can definitely tell that the author knows what she is talking about, but again, see above about eye glazing 😵💫.
Also I’m not a huge fan of the hot mess FMC paired with the Uber competent MMC. It feels off balance. This FMC was a bit of a nut job at the beginning. She acted like a teenager and had trouble holding her tongue and not descending into verbal diarrhea in front of the MMC. She did have some character growth though and went pretty badass at the end so ultimately I was happy with her as a character and found her to be a strong heroine.
The MMC however wasn’t really well developed. This book was written in third person limited POV and focussed mainly on the heroine’s thoughts and daily life, although since the stalker got a POV it was weird that the hero did not. As a result I didn’t feel like we knew the MMC very well, we weren’t given much on his background, and I was ok with a slow reveal on him but it really turned out to be a no reveal once the dust settled. He was an enigma, a taciturn grump and I don’t know if the two mains ever really had a full conversation. That was mainly what took off stars in my rating. This was closer to chick lit than romance as a result, and their relationship and the MMC himself were not well fleshed out and really took a backseat to the FMC’s struggles and the (2!!) suspense plots.
But overall I did enjoy this and will be continuing with the series. It was a refreshing change from the sex heavy/plot light stuff I’ve read lately.
Want to read
May 20, 2018Rosaline recommended this one.
Shari Kay gave it a good rating, which means it must be safe of OW and OM.
Honest publishing company, no false advertising.
I'm really exited about this one.
Shari Kay gave it a good rating, which means it must be safe of OW and OM.
Honest publishing company, no false advertising.
I'm really exited about this one.
December 7, 2023
Reread 12/5/23: 5 stars. Loved it again the second time around. A lot of this story is surprisingly light considering how much terrible stuff actually happens… but the author had a way of lightening the heavy mood of the story. Really great read.
Safe
- no virgins
- no OW drama
- no clue about hero’s past
- mild OM drama
- hero is extremely jealous of every other man who interacts with the heroine
- no scenes with OM/OW
- I honestly don’t remember if there was even a spicy scene in this bc I was listening and trying to do other stuff and might have just missed it 🤪 yay for my poor multitasking skills!
- no cheating
Original 1/18/22: 4.5 stars. One of my favorite series of this year. I read books 1,3,4 of this series and loved them all. I only skipped book 2 because I'm not really into the MC thing in romance.
This whole series is safe and SO SO GOOD.
As an aside, I really gave up on goodreads for the past month - and I'm now trying to play catch-up, so don't mind all my shit-tastic reviews to come.
Safe
- no virgins
- no OW drama
- no clue about hero’s past
- mild OM drama
- hero is extremely jealous of every other man who interacts with the heroine
- no scenes with OM/OW
- I honestly don’t remember if there was even a spicy scene in this bc I was listening and trying to do other stuff and might have just missed it 🤪 yay for my poor multitasking skills!
- no cheating
Original 1/18/22: 4.5 stars. One of my favorite series of this year. I read books 1,3,4 of this series and loved them all. I only skipped book 2 because I'm not really into the MC thing in romance.
This whole series is safe and SO SO GOOD.
As an aside, I really gave up on goodreads for the past month - and I'm now trying to play catch-up, so don't mind all my shit-tastic reviews to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2016
She ran away to start a new life, to start HER life, with her in control, not her family, not her ex-boyfriend. Lou ran as far as she could, began living a life she never dreamed of and was often like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole, especially as she trained as a rescue diver in the frigid temps of the Rocky Mountains. Her biggest screw ups always seemed to be in front of her instructor, the ever-so-serious and mysterious Callum Cook. His sighs and looks of disgust seemed to tear at her very heart, the one that was attracted to the too hot to handle man.
Callum found the new girl in town to be trying too hard, and he was attracted to her determination, good heart and quirky character, too bad he wasn’t ready to trust anyone with his heart, again, he just wasn’t boyfriend material, his obsession with neatness could drive anyone crazy, but when a stalker is terrorizing Lou, he needs to be the one to protect her, at any cost. No, he doesn’t feel more than friendship toward the amazing woman, no he isn’t smiling more when she is around and no, he didn’t move her into his place for any reason other than she lost her home to arson.
As Lou’s stalker becomes more threatening, more dangerous and more deadly, the only place Lou feels safe is in Callum’s muscular arms.
Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle is part suspense, part romance, part action and 100% entertaining! Her characters fit the small town ideal perfectly, everyone knows everything, they all help each other out and they have that toughness born of the wilderness and brutal weather. Lou is tough, giving and even though she lacks that personal self-assuredness that she can do anything, her sincerity in trying is both admirable and often kind of funny! Mr. “I-am-a rock,” Callum has a soft side that show through more than he knows! Ask the town! Kick in the suspense and the dark and shadowy villain and this tale is a well-told read to get lost in! Not sure I could do the water rescue in the water under the ice, though…brrrrr
I received an ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Search & Rescue
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN-13: 9781492628170
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Callum found the new girl in town to be trying too hard, and he was attracted to her determination, good heart and quirky character, too bad he wasn’t ready to trust anyone with his heart, again, he just wasn’t boyfriend material, his obsession with neatness could drive anyone crazy, but when a stalker is terrorizing Lou, he needs to be the one to protect her, at any cost. No, he doesn’t feel more than friendship toward the amazing woman, no he isn’t smiling more when she is around and no, he didn’t move her into his place for any reason other than she lost her home to arson.
As Lou’s stalker becomes more threatening, more dangerous and more deadly, the only place Lou feels safe is in Callum’s muscular arms.
Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle is part suspense, part romance, part action and 100% entertaining! Her characters fit the small town ideal perfectly, everyone knows everything, they all help each other out and they have that toughness born of the wilderness and brutal weather. Lou is tough, giving and even though she lacks that personal self-assuredness that she can do anything, her sincerity in trying is both admirable and often kind of funny! Mr. “I-am-a rock,” Callum has a soft side that show through more than he knows! Ask the town! Kick in the suspense and the dark and shadowy villain and this tale is a well-told read to get lost in! Not sure I could do the water rescue in the water under the ice, though…brrrrr
I received an ARC edition from Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Search & Rescue
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: April 5, 2016
ISBN-13: 9781492628170
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 14, 2017
4.5 stars!
I totally loved this book! Loved Lou. She made me laugh. I wanted to be friends with her. There were so many times she could have been annoying but was not. I absolutely adored Callum in all of his broody OCD glory. He was sweet and unintentionally funny. I loved how much Lou did NOT annoy him. I also throughly it was so cute how he considered them on dates when Lou did not and he was too shy to say anything.
The action was good. Not very complex but enjoyable. I wish it were a little steamier and got more of Callum's POV but otherwise I really loved it.
I totally loved this book! Loved Lou. She made me laugh. I wanted to be friends with her. There were so many times she could have been annoying but was not. I absolutely adored Callum in all of his broody OCD glory. He was sweet and unintentionally funny. I loved how much Lou did NOT annoy him. I also throughly it was so cute how he considered them on dates when Lou did not and he was too shy to say anything.
The action was good. Not very complex but enjoyable. I wish it were a little steamier and got more of Callum's POV but otherwise I really loved it.
November 4, 2025
Louise “Lou” is a woman that has plans to leave her past behind. A bad relationship and a difficult socialite family has all pushed her to truly chase her dreams, dreams of becoming an ice rescue dive team member.
Facing the frigid waters of the Rocky Mountains is serious business but her dive instructor, Callum, knows just how to get her blood boiling. Unfortunately for Callum, he just doesn’t want anyone, especially that spit fire trainee Lou, defrosting his heart.
This is a career where you and your rescue’s lives are on the line and things can turn deadly in a second. Ruggle then adds in an unknown stalker, ice cold waters and treacherous terrain, what an incredible back drop for some serious story telling.
Hold Your Breath is a chilling, suspense filled story that will have you shivering on a warm sunny day. A mysterious villain, freezing temperatures and desperate situations are balanced by a hard won and slow growing romantic relationship, making for some seriously enjoyable reading.
I received an ARC copy of Hold Your Breath from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 5, 2016.
Facing the frigid waters of the Rocky Mountains is serious business but her dive instructor, Callum, knows just how to get her blood boiling. Unfortunately for Callum, he just doesn’t want anyone, especially that spit fire trainee Lou, defrosting his heart.
This is a career where you and your rescue’s lives are on the line and things can turn deadly in a second. Ruggle then adds in an unknown stalker, ice cold waters and treacherous terrain, what an incredible back drop for some serious story telling.
Hold Your Breath is a chilling, suspense filled story that will have you shivering on a warm sunny day. A mysterious villain, freezing temperatures and desperate situations are balanced by a hard won and slow growing romantic relationship, making for some seriously enjoyable reading.
I received an ARC copy of Hold Your Breath from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication April 5, 2016.
April 1, 2017
This series and the characters had a lot of potential but it was never realized in this book. I also found the narrator less than memorable.
Louise “Lou” Sparks moved across the country to assert her independence and build a life helping others. She found work with the Field County Ice Rescue Team where Callum Cook was her supervisor. When Lou found a dead body in the water, along with the tires on her car slashed, she turned to Callum for help.
This book had a steady pace of action and suspense. The author did a job of developing Lou and Callum, but I never connected with Lou and Callum. Lou was kind of amusing but Callum was too gruff for me. They were opposites and it worked for them. The romance just wasn’t developed that well and there wasn’t enough creativity to differentiate this book from other books in this genre.
For those who like more adventure and less romance, this book would be entertaining. Their relationship make sense on a cerebral level, there wasn’t enough emotional intensity to make it engaging. I like more romantic development of the characters so I didn’t really feel the connection between Lou and Callum.
While I didn’t enjoy this book, I will try book two before I decide whether this series is a keeper. There is an interesting premise and I want to give it a chance.
Louise “Lou” Sparks moved across the country to assert her independence and build a life helping others. She found work with the Field County Ice Rescue Team where Callum Cook was her supervisor. When Lou found a dead body in the water, along with the tires on her car slashed, she turned to Callum for help.
This book had a steady pace of action and suspense. The author did a job of developing Lou and Callum, but I never connected with Lou and Callum. Lou was kind of amusing but Callum was too gruff for me. They were opposites and it worked for them. The romance just wasn’t developed that well and there wasn’t enough creativity to differentiate this book from other books in this genre.
For those who like more adventure and less romance, this book would be entertaining. Their relationship make sense on a cerebral level, there wasn’t enough emotional intensity to make it engaging. I like more romantic development of the characters so I didn’t really feel the connection between Lou and Callum.
While I didn’t enjoy this book, I will try book two before I decide whether this series is a keeper. There is an interesting premise and I want to give it a chance.
July 16, 2018
3.5 Stars
Such potential.
I needed a little more character and relationship development. It was almost there.
Katie Ruggle gives great danger and action. Lots of stuff going on to hold my interest.
I’m hoping Katie takes her time to develop the characters and relationships as the series moves on.
Such potential.
I needed a little more character and relationship development. It was almost there.
Katie Ruggle gives great danger and action. Lots of stuff going on to hold my interest.
I’m hoping Katie takes her time to develop the characters and relationships as the series moves on.
December 5, 2023
4.5 stars
🔪I love these suspense romance reads and have been reading more and more. So I’m gonna break them down differently from my other reviews.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away so you can go into it it blind and enjoy all the twists and turns❤️.
Ratings 0-5 Star Scale
😮Mystery/Suspense-
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a refreshing read I loved this ❤️
Suspense
Murder mystery
Forced proximity- kinda
Stalker
Grumpy/Sunshine
Winter, ❄️ snow and cabin vibes
Search and rescue
This was refreshing, fun and a sweet romance. I loved the small town feels. There were a few spots where it was slower but I enjoyed every minute of this book.
❤️🔥Romance/Chemistry-
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For this genre I really liked how the build of romance was. It was a good 50/50 of romance and mystery and I LOVE THAT❤️❤️….PASSIONATELY. This couple made a great team and were so cute.
We get a tasteful sex scene and passionate moments but nothing OTT. This was not a insta. They worked together for a few months and kept it platonic while being attracted to each other. Then the romance built through out the book. No talks of OP but the H DID NOT HAVE MANWHORE VIBES❤️.
They had good chemistry ❤️🔥
🚹Hero-
4 stars
I would have given this book and the H 5 stars had we gotten Callums POV. I wanted to be in his head and know what he was thinking. More background more of his overall personality.
But even without that he is strong, super protective and a little possessive of our h. I loved the scenes where he is clearly jealous of OM. It was so cute.
🚺Heroine-
4.5 stars
She was definite sunshine. She didn’t let to much keep her down. She was a bit childish at times but nothing to bad. She was a sweetheart and really likeable. I thought she was relatable and she had me laughing more than once.
⚠️Safety-
No OWD
Mild OMD- any guy that seems interested in the h makes the H jelly ❤️. And Her ex cause some problems.
🥳No talks of the H past AT ALL!!! LOVE ❤️ THIS. So refreshing to just not have to hear about all his past woman.
She had an ex bf but she didn’t love him and he wants her back.
No OP after they meet
Drowning
Fire
Stalking
🎧Audiobook Narration-
4stars
She did a good job BUT she needed to be a bit more definitive when she was changing from the h to other characters especially the the H. But overall easy to listen to.
🥰Overall Enjoyment-
Love this! It was refreshing. I am skipping the next book cause it’s a MC and moving to book 3. This is really well written and has LOTS OF PERSONALITY.
I highly recommend
🔪I love these suspense romance reads and have been reading more and more. So I’m gonna break them down differently from my other reviews.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away so you can go into it it blind and enjoy all the twists and turns❤️.
Ratings 0-5 Star Scale
😮Mystery/Suspense-
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a refreshing read I loved this ❤️
Suspense
Murder mystery
Forced proximity- kinda
Stalker
Grumpy/Sunshine
Winter, ❄️ snow and cabin vibes
Search and rescue
This was refreshing, fun and a sweet romance. I loved the small town feels. There were a few spots where it was slower but I enjoyed every minute of this book.
❤️🔥Romance/Chemistry-
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For this genre I really liked how the build of romance was. It was a good 50/50 of romance and mystery and I LOVE THAT❤️❤️….PASSIONATELY. This couple made a great team and were so cute.
We get a tasteful sex scene and passionate moments but nothing OTT. This was not a insta. They worked together for a few months and kept it platonic while being attracted to each other. Then the romance built through out the book. No talks of OP but the H DID NOT HAVE MANWHORE VIBES❤️.
They had good chemistry ❤️🔥
🚹Hero-
4 stars
I would have given this book and the H 5 stars had we gotten Callums POV. I wanted to be in his head and know what he was thinking. More background more of his overall personality.
But even without that he is strong, super protective and a little possessive of our h. I loved the scenes where he is clearly jealous of OM. It was so cute.
🚺Heroine-
4.5 stars
She was definite sunshine. She didn’t let to much keep her down. She was a bit childish at times but nothing to bad. She was a sweetheart and really likeable. I thought she was relatable and she had me laughing more than once.
⚠️Safety-
No OWD
Mild OMD- any guy that seems interested in the h makes the H jelly ❤️. And Her ex cause some problems.
🥳No talks of the H past AT ALL!!! LOVE ❤️ THIS. So refreshing to just not have to hear about all his past woman.
She had an ex bf but she didn’t love him and he wants her back.
No OP after they meet
Drowning
Fire
Stalking
🎧Audiobook Narration-
4stars
She did a good job BUT she needed to be a bit more definitive when she was changing from the h to other characters especially the the H. But overall easy to listen to.
🥰Overall Enjoyment-
Love this! It was refreshing. I am skipping the next book cause it’s a MC and moving to book 3. This is really well written and has LOTS OF PERSONALITY.
I highly recommend
April 14, 2016
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★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - 1 in the series.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 5
★Review★
After book 0.5 being a bit of a dud for me, I loved this story.
I adored the hero, he is a bit taciturn, nicknamed "The Iceman", has a need for order and neatness.
And the heroine was funny, a touch messy, endearing, and brave, trying to make a new life for herself after running away from her previous life.
And while the romance was a bit slow building, I enjoyed it, and the efforts Lou went to make Callum smile.
And even though book 0.5 was a bit disappointing to me, the hero from that book, was a great secondary character here.
And the suspense part of the story was well done. There was a part specific to this story (Lou's stalker) and another that appears like it will be an ongoing story arc over the series.
Some might feel the romance part of the story fades into the background while the suspense takes the front seat, but for me it worked. The romance was slowly bubbling away, and the suspense part allowing that to move forward, Callum getting protective, partnering up with Lou to help her. It worked very well for me.
And with a whole cast of Fire Crew, or Dive team characters that all just scream "future hero" this is a series I am really looking forward to reading.
A great 5 stars. I was just happy reading this book, and in that place where you cannot wait to read on and see what happens while at the same time wanting it to slow down so it would not end!
★Book Basics★
Genre : - Cont. Romance
Series : - 1 in the series.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Would I read more by this author/or in this series? - Yes
Rating - 5
★Review★
After book 0.5 being a bit of a dud for me, I loved this story.
I adored the hero, he is a bit taciturn, nicknamed "The Iceman", has a need for order and neatness.
And the heroine was funny, a touch messy, endearing, and brave, trying to make a new life for herself after running away from her previous life.
And while the romance was a bit slow building, I enjoyed it, and the efforts Lou went to make Callum smile.
And even though book 0.5 was a bit disappointing to me, the hero from that book, was a great secondary character here.
And the suspense part of the story was well done. There was a part specific to this story (Lou's stalker) and another that appears like it will be an ongoing story arc over the series.
Some might feel the romance part of the story fades into the background while the suspense takes the front seat, but for me it worked. The romance was slowly bubbling away, and the suspense part allowing that to move forward, Callum getting protective, partnering up with Lou to help her. It worked very well for me.
And with a whole cast of Fire Crew, or Dive team characters that all just scream "future hero" this is a series I am really looking forward to reading.
A great 5 stars. I was just happy reading this book, and in that place where you cannot wait to read on and see what happens while at the same time wanting it to slow down so it would not end!
August 26, 2020
Action-packed, funny, and sweet, this book is amazing.
Callum Cook is an ex-marine, leader of the search & rescue team, perfectionist, and a little surly. Lou Sparks moved out to the Rockies to escape her controlling ex. She is accident prone, sarcastic, and needing to make it on her own. Lou moved out into the middle of nowhere to prove herself but after things start happening to put her life in jeopardy, she'll learn to rely on Callum without losing her hard won independence. Callum sees Lou as a walking disaster, odd, and keeping her safe had become his number one priority.
One of my favorite things about the characters is that they embody what we have come to love in romance, alpha male and independent female, without being overbearing. Although Lou wants to be independent she realizes that she can still retain her independence with Callum, who doesn't want her to change. She isn't independent to the point of annoying or too stupid to live and he's not alpha to the point where he overwhelms her.
It kept me engaged and wondering what happens next. Although the book doesn't technically end on a cliffhanger, it will make you excited for book 2, Fan the Flames
Callum Cook is an ex-marine, leader of the search & rescue team, perfectionist, and a little surly. Lou Sparks moved out to the Rockies to escape her controlling ex. She is accident prone, sarcastic, and needing to make it on her own. Lou moved out into the middle of nowhere to prove herself but after things start happening to put her life in jeopardy, she'll learn to rely on Callum without losing her hard won independence. Callum sees Lou as a walking disaster, odd, and keeping her safe had become his number one priority.
One of my favorite things about the characters is that they embody what we have come to love in romance, alpha male and independent female, without being overbearing. Although Lou wants to be independent she realizes that she can still retain her independence with Callum, who doesn't want her to change. She isn't independent to the point of annoying or too stupid to live and he's not alpha to the point where he overwhelms her.
It kept me engaged and wondering what happens next. Although the book doesn't technically end on a cliffhanger, it will make you excited for book 2, Fan the Flames
May 19, 2016
ARC Review
Gee, I really wanted this to be more. So much potential, but not fully realized. The characters are engaging and the author spends a good amount of time developing them. Lou is funny and absolutely resolute about making it in the search and rescue business. I like her determination. I also think Ms. Ruggle does a good job with Callum, although is a little too stoic for my taste. I am sure he will appeal to others.
The suspense is okay. I did not find it particularly creative or intense, but it works for this story. The biggest problem I have is the same problem I had with the prequel - the narrative is unbalanced for a romantic suspense. The relationship is underdeveloped and I am not sure that Lou and Callum belong together. It's an odd couple to start with and I need a lot more convincing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Gee, I really wanted this to be more. So much potential, but not fully realized. The characters are engaging and the author spends a good amount of time developing them. Lou is funny and absolutely resolute about making it in the search and rescue business. I like her determination. I also think Ms. Ruggle does a good job with Callum, although is a little too stoic for my taste. I am sure he will appeal to others.
The suspense is okay. I did not find it particularly creative or intense, but it works for this story. The biggest problem I have is the same problem I had with the prequel - the narrative is unbalanced for a romantic suspense. The relationship is underdeveloped and I am not sure that Lou and Callum belong together. It's an odd couple to start with and I need a lot more convincing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2017
3.75 stars!
January 30, 2019
2.5 stars
June 26, 2018
This author’s writing style is really working for me. I love that she fleshes out her characters, making them multi-layered and dimensional. They become more relatable and likable. Lou and Callum were awesome together and they lived up to my expectations. I received an ARC for book 4 a while back and fell in love with that couple but the previous couples made a pretty huge impression on me and I’ve been planning to read this series in its entirety for a while. So when I went to the bookstore and they had all three books, I caved and bought them all.
The story is simmering with tension, suspense and plenty of mystery. I loved Lou’s mile a minute personality and Callum’s singular brand of charm (both are pretty irresistible) and had my laughing a few times too. The murder/mystery was a little bit on the slow side, Lou's stalker and the HDG were two mysteries happening simultaneously and the pacing slowed down a bit in places.
This being the second book in the series I’ve read, I hope the horrible parenting isn’t going to be an ongoing trend. Daisy’s dad was a total douche in book 4 (he did not redeem himself!) and Lou’s parents pushing her to date a guy ten years older than her, when she was 16 is just so effed up!
A positive trend that I hope will continue (because I’m off to read Fan the Flames next!) is that the heroines are strong and brave, that even though they have big strong alpha men ready to protect them, they don’t take the easy way out and step up to save themselves. Lou was a perfect match for Callum and vise versus. She added some levity to the story and the times she managed to make Callum blush were priceless! Although I really enjoyed Lou and Callum, Chris and Daisy are still my favorite couple so far and I was charmed all over again when Chris was introduced and makes a few appearances in HYB.
Would I recommend?
This is definitely a series to recommend. I am loving it and am off to read the next one!
SAFETY INFO:
The story is simmering with tension, suspense and plenty of mystery. I loved Lou’s mile a minute personality and Callum’s singular brand of charm (both are pretty irresistible) and had my laughing a few times too. The murder/mystery was a little bit on the slow side, Lou's stalker and the HDG were two mysteries happening simultaneously and the pacing slowed down a bit in places.
This being the second book in the series I’ve read, I hope the horrible parenting isn’t going to be an ongoing trend. Daisy’s dad was a total douche in book 4 (he did not redeem himself!) and Lou’s parents pushing her to date a guy ten years older than her, when she was 16 is just so effed up!
A positive trend that I hope will continue (because I’m off to read Fan the Flames next!) is that the heroines are strong and brave, that even though they have big strong alpha men ready to protect them, they don’t take the easy way out and step up to save themselves. Lou was a perfect match for Callum and vise versus. She added some levity to the story and the times she managed to make Callum blush were priceless! Although I really enjoyed Lou and Callum, Chris and Daisy are still my favorite couple so far and I was charmed all over again when Chris was introduced and makes a few appearances in HYB.
Would I recommend?
This is definitely a series to recommend. I am loving it and am off to read the next one!
SAFETY INFO:
February 14, 2016
3.5 stars
Katie Ruggle brings her reader romance, suspense, drama and action in the first full-length novel in her Search and Rescue series.
"I just want to add a little chaos to your life."
We met search and rescue team leader, Callum Cook and new-girl Lou Sparks in the introductory novella On His Watch and there was definitely something brewing there. Hold Your Breath is a three-pronged attack in terms of storyline and not only do we see their feelings for one another grow, but there is the mystery of the headless body in the lake to solve and Lou facing the horrifying reality that she has a stalker, prepared to go to extreme lengths to hurt her.
"'Research' isn’t some new euphemism for getting laid, is it?"
If you're looking for a heated romance then I'll be honest, this isn't that. The romance is almost secondary to the mystery and suspense. And generally it works well; Lou and Callum are colleagues, friends and their feelings blossom as the book progresses. In some respects it was paced a little steadily and the slow-burning chemistry became a little repetitive but once the stalker aspect of the storyline gets going it does ramp things up whilst bringing them closer.
He fit with her and she fit with him, as neatly as that last piece of a puzzle snapping into place.
These characters don't bring anything particular unique to the table but they are endearing. Cal is the strong-silent protective type with a sarcastic streak and Lou is bubbly, cheeky and tries to hide her fears and insecurities. But I never felt I really got to know Cal, he was actually a man of very few words, and it felt their was an unanswered reason for that. On the whole though, Hold Your Breath was an enjoyable read, it keeps you guessing throughout and we don't have long to wait for Firefighter, Ian's story in Fan the Flames.
Copy received courtesy of Sourcebooks via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Katie Ruggle brings her reader romance, suspense, drama and action in the first full-length novel in her Search and Rescue series.
"I just want to add a little chaos to your life."
We met search and rescue team leader, Callum Cook and new-girl Lou Sparks in the introductory novella On His Watch and there was definitely something brewing there. Hold Your Breath is a three-pronged attack in terms of storyline and not only do we see their feelings for one another grow, but there is the mystery of the headless body in the lake to solve and Lou facing the horrifying reality that she has a stalker, prepared to go to extreme lengths to hurt her.
"'Research' isn’t some new euphemism for getting laid, is it?"
If you're looking for a heated romance then I'll be honest, this isn't that. The romance is almost secondary to the mystery and suspense. And generally it works well; Lou and Callum are colleagues, friends and their feelings blossom as the book progresses. In some respects it was paced a little steadily and the slow-burning chemistry became a little repetitive but once the stalker aspect of the storyline gets going it does ramp things up whilst bringing them closer.
He fit with her and she fit with him, as neatly as that last piece of a puzzle snapping into place.
These characters don't bring anything particular unique to the table but they are endearing. Cal is the strong-silent protective type with a sarcastic streak and Lou is bubbly, cheeky and tries to hide her fears and insecurities. But I never felt I really got to know Cal, he was actually a man of very few words, and it felt their was an unanswered reason for that. On the whole though, Hold Your Breath was an enjoyable read, it keeps you guessing throughout and we don't have long to wait for Firefighter, Ian's story in Fan the Flames.
Copy received courtesy of Sourcebooks via NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.
July 7, 2016
3.5 stars
Katie Ruggle is yet another new-to-me author (Can you tell I’m loving trying out new authors right now?). To be honest, it was the covers that caught my interest with these series. But once I read the blurb and the premise of this series, I knew that these books would definitely be my kind of thing.
Set in the remote Rocky Mountains, this series will follow the Search & Rescue crew as they save lives or in this case, try to solve a murder when a body start showing up in the water. Immediately, I was sucked in by this case just because it’s one that you don’t really see often. Kudos to Ruggle for coming up with something immediately intriguing and different in her books.
The hero of this book is the captain of the ice rescue dive team. Callum is not a guy you typically mess with. He’s a perfectionist and the heroine is….not. Louise “Lou” Sparks is quite wacky and care-free. But don’t let that fool you. She does her job well. So their relationship is a bit unlikely, yet cute and adorable at the same time.
This series reminds me a lot of Julie Ann Walker’s books. They are packed with action, but also make a lot of time for hijinks and fun. I think that’s always a great combination when it comes to Romantic Suspense novels because it creates those highs and lows that make an adventure a memorable one.
I know a lot of people’s complaints about this book was that Callum is so cold that they felt cheated out of a romance. But something super nova hot seems unlikely to happen in this book based on Callum’s personality. You can’t have hot, dirty-talking scenes when Callum is such a reserved guy. It’s going to be a slow burn no matter what. And while yes, I would have liked more, I also understand that the author wrote the perfect romance for her characters. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Katie Ruggle is yet another new-to-me author (Can you tell I’m loving trying out new authors right now?). To be honest, it was the covers that caught my interest with these series. But once I read the blurb and the premise of this series, I knew that these books would definitely be my kind of thing.
Set in the remote Rocky Mountains, this series will follow the Search & Rescue crew as they save lives or in this case, try to solve a murder when a body start showing up in the water. Immediately, I was sucked in by this case just because it’s one that you don’t really see often. Kudos to Ruggle for coming up with something immediately intriguing and different in her books.
The hero of this book is the captain of the ice rescue dive team. Callum is not a guy you typically mess with. He’s a perfectionist and the heroine is….not. Louise “Lou” Sparks is quite wacky and care-free. But don’t let that fool you. She does her job well. So their relationship is a bit unlikely, yet cute and adorable at the same time.
This series reminds me a lot of Julie Ann Walker’s books. They are packed with action, but also make a lot of time for hijinks and fun. I think that’s always a great combination when it comes to Romantic Suspense novels because it creates those highs and lows that make an adventure a memorable one.
I know a lot of people’s complaints about this book was that Callum is so cold that they felt cheated out of a romance. But something super nova hot seems unlikely to happen in this book based on Callum’s personality. You can’t have hot, dirty-talking scenes when Callum is such a reserved guy. It’s going to be a slow burn no matter what. And while yes, I would have liked more, I also understand that the author wrote the perfect romance for her characters. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
June 3, 2023
Reread. Still enjoy. Love the grumpy meets sunshine trope! Lots of suspense and adventure here
March 14, 2022
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed this one! I love both main characters. They treat each other well. Plus, the adventure/mystery is fun.
August 27, 2018
This story was really good. It held my interest from page one, never getting boring. I loved the Heroine, she was a strong woman with a great sense of humor. And I liked her with the Hero.
The story ends in a cliffhanger, so there's no epilogue. It's a happy end for now with the next book featuring a new couple. So the ending fell flat for me. I just hoped for more.
I would've given the book 5 stars if there would've been more romance. The relationship between the Hero and Heroine grows really fast and there seems to be something missing in this department. One factor is that there's no POV of the Hero and overall very little information about him and his past. Where are his parents, his family? How old is he? Why was he so grumpy all the times? Why did he fall for the Heroine? It just feels unfinished.
Totally safe book. No mention about OW at all. No separation. No cheating. No OM drama. Just how I love it.
The story ends in a cliffhanger, so there's no epilogue. It's a happy end for now with the next book featuring a new couple. So the ending fell flat for me. I just hoped for more.
I would've given the book 5 stars if there would've been more romance. The relationship between the Hero and Heroine grows really fast and there seems to be something missing in this department. One factor is that there's no POV of the Hero and overall very little information about him and his past. Where are his parents, his family? How old is he? Why was he so grumpy all the times? Why did he fall for the Heroine? It just feels unfinished.
Totally safe book. No mention about OW at all. No separation. No cheating. No OM drama. Just how I love it.
January 20, 2019
Nice to read some really intense action sequences. The ending felt really abrupt, but that could have more to do with the dozens of pages left after the story actually ended. I do feel like there was a giant unresolved issue with a certain someone disappearing awfully abruptly. Still, great read. New to me author, will def continue this series.
April 14, 2016
Lou is new to Colorado having moved from the east coast about seven months prior. She had to get away from her controlling parents and wanted to start a life of her own. This new life includes working as a barista during the day, and working on the Field County Ice Rescue Team whenever an emergency arises. Lou lives in a remote cabin, and has made some good friends on her rescue team. During a practice ice water dive one day, Lou kicks something while in the icy water. What bobs up a few seconds later is a dead body without head. Shaken, Lou thinks it's pretty gross but also feels invested in finding out who this headless dead guy is.
Callum is Lou's boss on the rescue team. He is gruff and intense, and pretty no-nonsense. If you can get him to smile maybe once a year, it's a good year. Callum spends his days exasperated by the sarcastic and sometimes silly Lou, but deep down he is very fond of her - and she is fond of him. When Lou's tires get slashed, she realizes she might have a stalker - and Callum steps in to make sure she stays safe.
The good news is that I really enjoyed Lou. She is funny - she made me giggle with her great sense of humor. Working on a dive team of primarily men, she can give it as good as she gets it. She is a very well written heroine and that makes me like this author a lot. While there are some serious things happening in this book, Lou gives us a bit of comic relief, without being too blase about a headless dead guy or HDG as she calls him.
Stalker plots are not necessarily my favorite story line, but this one was okay. We have brief pages of being in the stalker's head - and his actions are pretty standard stalkerish...ramping up to major drama towards the end of the book. But it kept Lou on her toes and she took the threats pretty seriously.
The bad news is that the romance in this book isn't that well done. I liked Lou and Callum together - they have good chemistry. Callum is so quiet and intense, that I couldn't wait for Lou and him to have this explosive, pent-up sexual release. The problem is - when it finally happens (and it takes FOREVER) it was a let down. Heck, I didn't even need a super dirty sex scene, but give me a good make out session without the phone ringing. Or something! Callum and Lou go from this fun, build-up of a romance to...basically, oh hey - so, are we dating now?
"We've gone on dates," he protested, totally missing the point. "We went to Levi's."
"Fine. We've gone on one date."
"Plus, we went to the bar together."
"Uh, that was to talk to the coroner about a dead person."
"Still counts."
"Does not."
"Does."
"Whatever. Two dates then. So, we're dating?"
"Yes."
"Are we exclusive?"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
That's pretty much how it goes. It cheats the reader out of a solid romance. Don't give me a half-naked man on the cover (standing in ice water for goodness sakes!) and then a romance which is barely shown.
I really enjoyed this author's voice - the story is fun. The characters are really engaging. I just needed more romance.
Callum is Lou's boss on the rescue team. He is gruff and intense, and pretty no-nonsense. If you can get him to smile maybe once a year, it's a good year. Callum spends his days exasperated by the sarcastic and sometimes silly Lou, but deep down he is very fond of her - and she is fond of him. When Lou's tires get slashed, she realizes she might have a stalker - and Callum steps in to make sure she stays safe.
The good news is that I really enjoyed Lou. She is funny - she made me giggle with her great sense of humor. Working on a dive team of primarily men, she can give it as good as she gets it. She is a very well written heroine and that makes me like this author a lot. While there are some serious things happening in this book, Lou gives us a bit of comic relief, without being too blase about a headless dead guy or HDG as she calls him.
Stalker plots are not necessarily my favorite story line, but this one was okay. We have brief pages of being in the stalker's head - and his actions are pretty standard stalkerish...ramping up to major drama towards the end of the book. But it kept Lou on her toes and she took the threats pretty seriously.
The bad news is that the romance in this book isn't that well done. I liked Lou and Callum together - they have good chemistry. Callum is so quiet and intense, that I couldn't wait for Lou and him to have this explosive, pent-up sexual release. The problem is - when it finally happens (and it takes FOREVER) it was a let down. Heck, I didn't even need a super dirty sex scene, but give me a good make out session without the phone ringing. Or something! Callum and Lou go from this fun, build-up of a romance to...basically, oh hey - so, are we dating now?
"We've gone on dates," he protested, totally missing the point. "We went to Levi's."
"Fine. We've gone on one date."
"Plus, we went to the bar together."
"Uh, that was to talk to the coroner about a dead person."
"Still counts."
"Does not."
"Does."
"Whatever. Two dates then. So, we're dating?"
"Yes."
"Are we exclusive?"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
That's pretty much how it goes. It cheats the reader out of a solid romance. Don't give me a half-naked man on the cover (standing in ice water for goodness sakes!) and then a romance which is barely shown.
I really enjoyed this author's voice - the story is fun. The characters are really engaging. I just needed more romance.
February 6, 2017
Coffee Dates with Hold Your Breath
First Date: I loved the Colorado setting from the mountains to the quaint town. The delightful narrations from Rachel Dulude quickly made me familiar with our heroine Louise "Lou" Sparks and her Resue Team Captain Callum Cook. On this first date, we learn a little about Lou's past and her new position on Field County's Ice Resue Dive Team. The team is going through a training exercise on the lake when Lou discovers a dead body in the water. Lou is inquisitive, and I can already tell that her quest for answers is going to get us all in trouble. The chemistry between Callum and Lou is sizzling but complicated by their personalities and positions. I am all in and curious to see what develops.
Second Date: I love romantic suspense but finding a story that is balanced between the romantic aspect, and the mystery is often hard. Usually one ends up lacking, but this was not the case with Hold Your Breath. Ruggle carefully balanced the two and weaved them skillfully together. Cullum is a bit of a neat freak with some OCD tendencies and I felt his pain. Lou's inner dialogue and spunky personality is a perfect match for Cullum's controlled and quiet manner. I loved Lou's sarcasm and inner dialogue. Her tendency to get verbal diarrhea when nervous led to some laugh out loud moments. Poor Callum. A slashed tire and other incidents lead Lou to the discovery that she has a stalker. This thread escalated throughout the story placing our heroine in danger. We even get a few scenes from the stalker. I picked right up on who the stalker was but enjoyed the thread.
Third Date: The synopsis has a warning about mature themes, but there was nothing overly shocking for an adult contemporary romance here. The romance was slow building and moments took place in the midsts of the suspense thread. I love that despite the seriousness of the situation Ruggle allowed for humor in part due to Lou's vibrant, snarky personality and the fact that Callum is her polar opposite. It was funny and felt genuine. Despite knowing who, we had some hold your breath moments as we moved towards the climatic end. I was delighted we were given a complete story. The romantic thread wrapped up nicely as well and left me removing my earbuds with a smile.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
First Date: I loved the Colorado setting from the mountains to the quaint town. The delightful narrations from Rachel Dulude quickly made me familiar with our heroine Louise "Lou" Sparks and her Resue Team Captain Callum Cook. On this first date, we learn a little about Lou's past and her new position on Field County's Ice Resue Dive Team. The team is going through a training exercise on the lake when Lou discovers a dead body in the water. Lou is inquisitive, and I can already tell that her quest for answers is going to get us all in trouble. The chemistry between Callum and Lou is sizzling but complicated by their personalities and positions. I am all in and curious to see what develops.
Second Date: I love romantic suspense but finding a story that is balanced between the romantic aspect, and the mystery is often hard. Usually one ends up lacking, but this was not the case with Hold Your Breath. Ruggle carefully balanced the two and weaved them skillfully together. Cullum is a bit of a neat freak with some OCD tendencies and I felt his pain. Lou's inner dialogue and spunky personality is a perfect match for Cullum's controlled and quiet manner. I loved Lou's sarcasm and inner dialogue. Her tendency to get verbal diarrhea when nervous led to some laugh out loud moments. Poor Callum. A slashed tire and other incidents lead Lou to the discovery that she has a stalker. This thread escalated throughout the story placing our heroine in danger. We even get a few scenes from the stalker. I picked right up on who the stalker was but enjoyed the thread.
Third Date: The synopsis has a warning about mature themes, but there was nothing overly shocking for an adult contemporary romance here. The romance was slow building and moments took place in the midsts of the suspense thread. I love that despite the seriousness of the situation Ruggle allowed for humor in part due to Lou's vibrant, snarky personality and the fact that Callum is her polar opposite. It was funny and felt genuine. Despite knowing who, we had some hold your breath moments as we moved towards the climatic end. I was delighted we were given a complete story. The romantic thread wrapped up nicely as well and left me removing my earbuds with a smile.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
March 8, 2018
3.5 stars - Not bad. I discovered that Katie Ruggle is also Katie Allen, an author I like, so I thought I'd check out her new series - I really liked this first book, and am currently getting ready to read book 2. Reminds me a bit of Pamela Clare newest series, which is not an insult at all.
September 28, 2025
Baby’s first shirtless man on the cover romance. I hate when male love interests are blonde. I hate when a grown man is blonde. Grow up. Anyway this was really stupid and aside from the copaganda I really enjoyed myself.
May 21, 2018
Nice!
Real nice and smooooth!
I loved the comfortability between these two!
Tots goals!
Next book! Next book! Just you wait Ian I am on my waaay!
March 28, 2016
Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle
Anxiety: knowing there is a creepy stalker guy right outside the bedroom window and the heroine inside is still unaware. This book is more romance than true suspense but it has a nice edge.
Two of my favorite aspects include the heroine's positive attitude and 'can-do' demeanor.
And when the hero, Callum, admitted he was actually happier when around Lou, it was touching and surprising that he was that self-aware.
Both of these characters acknowledge their feelings out loud which is rare. Very adult and it makes it a wonderful romance.
It's a book that stands alone but ends with a lead-in to the next book in the series.
Lou Sparks volunteers with Field County Dive Rescue Team in the Colorado Rockies. Callum Cook is the dive master and is captivated with Lou's liveliness and joy. Drawn to her, he finds a reason to visit the diner she works in during the day. He needs to find a way to keep her safe from the vandal who slit he tires.
Excerpt:
"I wanted to talk to you about our ...research project"
The slightest of grimaces crossed his face.
"oh no, no, no" she said. "None of that"
"None of what?"
"You're thinking of backing out." Lou planted herself in front of him, her fist on her hips. "There will be no backing out of this. I need your help. I realized last night that I have no idea what I'm doing."
His eyes shifted over her shoulder, as if wishing he were away from her and back in the safety of numbers. Lou tipped her body slightly to the right so she could put herself in his line of sight.
"Please?" She bounced a little on the balls of her feet. "C'mon Cal. You've been dive team leader for a while now. Share you wisdom. Be my sensei. Lead me on the path of criminal enlightenment."
He exhaled heavily, and she gave another tiny hop of excitement knowing she had him. "You're just going to harass me until I do anyway."
"That's right!" She beamed at him.
"Fine. Wait until everyone's left, and we'll talk."
Excerpt from Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle.
I received a copy of this book from NetGallery.
Anxiety: knowing there is a creepy stalker guy right outside the bedroom window and the heroine inside is still unaware. This book is more romance than true suspense but it has a nice edge.
Two of my favorite aspects include the heroine's positive attitude and 'can-do' demeanor.
And when the hero, Callum, admitted he was actually happier when around Lou, it was touching and surprising that he was that self-aware.
Both of these characters acknowledge their feelings out loud which is rare. Very adult and it makes it a wonderful romance.
It's a book that stands alone but ends with a lead-in to the next book in the series.
Lou Sparks volunteers with Field County Dive Rescue Team in the Colorado Rockies. Callum Cook is the dive master and is captivated with Lou's liveliness and joy. Drawn to her, he finds a reason to visit the diner she works in during the day. He needs to find a way to keep her safe from the vandal who slit he tires.
Excerpt:
"I wanted to talk to you about our ...research project"
The slightest of grimaces crossed his face.
"oh no, no, no" she said. "None of that"
"None of what?"
"You're thinking of backing out." Lou planted herself in front of him, her fist on her hips. "There will be no backing out of this. I need your help. I realized last night that I have no idea what I'm doing."
His eyes shifted over her shoulder, as if wishing he were away from her and back in the safety of numbers. Lou tipped her body slightly to the right so she could put herself in his line of sight.
"Please?" She bounced a little on the balls of her feet. "C'mon Cal. You've been dive team leader for a while now. Share you wisdom. Be my sensei. Lead me on the path of criminal enlightenment."
He exhaled heavily, and she gave another tiny hop of excitement knowing she had him. "You're just going to harass me until I do anyway."
"That's right!" She beamed at him.
"Fine. Wait until everyone's left, and we'll talk."
Excerpt from Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle.
I received a copy of this book from NetGallery.
February 1, 2016
ARC received from: Netgalley
Rating: 4*
Trope: Suspense
Chemistry: Low Boil
One-Sentence Summary: A search and rescue newcomer gets targeted by a stalker
Review: Admittedly, the novella which introduced the series didn't really win me over but this first full length novel completely made me a fan.
This book focuses heavily on the whodunnit element and the romance slowburns away in the background which is a really nice change of pace. I've read loads of 'insta-love' romances recently and it was great to see Callum and Lou's relationship build slowly.
The fact that they are both rescue divers makes for an interesting setup and I wish we had seen more of Callum and Lou out rescuing and less time in Lou's tame other job as a barista. The scene in the ice at the climax of the book was really something though and had been racing through the pages like I was actually there.
As to one of the whodunnit elements then beware this book ends on a cliffhanger and I guess several of the characters we have already met in passing are going to be key to solving that mystery. I'll definitely be coming back to find out.
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